Location: Europe - Norway

Since Norway joined the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production in 2009, the NFI has worked hard to increase the number of international co-productions, which can qualify for local coin if there’s a local producer attached.

In the past five years, 19 international pics have shot in the country, seven of which were co-productions that tapped into state or regional funds.

Funding is dependent on either the pics’ perceived artistic merit or its local box office potential. For the latter, the maximum support is 50% of the budget, which is only applied to the local producer’s share of the equity. Experimental pics and kids and youth films in the Norwegian or Sami languages can sometimes qualify for 75% funding.

Another option is for the backing of a slate of films.

There is an emphasis on funding pics that help build local production expertise.

A deal memo from a Norwegian film distributor or broadcaster is required.

Norway has nine regional film bodies, which have their own funds that can be made available to foreign producers. Fuzz, a fund for Western Norway, can provide equity of up to $372,000 for each pic, up to a maximum of 20% of the budget.

Other regional funds include Film3, for pics produced in the Innlandet region, and FilmCamp in the Troms region.

Coin is also offered by pan-regional body the Nordisk Film and TV Fond.

Although not part of the European Union, Norway is a member of many European film support orgs, like the Media Program and Eurimages.

Foreign producers can apply for refunds on VAT paid on purchases in the country and imported goods.

STUDIOS & FACILITIES UPDATEThe leading facilities house is Storyline Studios in Oslo, which offers VFX, grading, online, offline, sound editing and mix. The company also invests equity in international co-productions. It is part of Norsk Filmstudio, which has a wide array of filmmaking equipment.In Northern Norway, FilmCamp offers studio space and facilities, and also has coin for international co-productions.

RESOURCES & CREW DEPTHNorwegian film technicians are flexible and highly skilled, and generally speak English and other European languages.

POST & VFXOslo’s Storm Studios is the largest supplier of vfx for feature films in Norway. Storm and Nordisk Film co-founded Shortcut Norway, a post facility that handles editing, color grading and sound work.